The Emmett Leahy Award Committee is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 Emmett Leahy Award. The Emmett Leahy Award recognises outstanding contributions and achievements that have had a major impact on the records and information management profession.
Established in 1967, the award honours the pioneering spirit of Emmett Leahy, a visionary in the development of the life cycle approach to managing records and information. It celebrates individuals, whether users, educators, archivists, records managers, scientists, or consultants, whose innovation, dedication, and excellence have advanced the profession globally. Selection is made independently by the Emmett Leahy Award Committee, composed of past award recipients, ensuring that the honour reflects true leadership and lasting influence in the field.
More than forty years ago, Emmett Leahy’s pioneering efforts profoundly reshaped information and records management to meet the growing needs of business and government. Today, we face a similar challenge: redefining records management processes to address the complex information demands of organisations in a highly regulated, electronic, and litigious environment. The Emmett Leahy Award celebrates past contributions while inspiring the pioneering spirit of those shaping the future of our profession.
-Trudy Huskamp Peterson
Chair of the 2026 Emmett Leahy Award Committee
Last year, Aída Luz Mendoza Navarro was honoured with the 2025 Emmett Leahy Award, presented during the ICA Barcelona 2025 Conference on 30 October 2025 by Trudy Huskamp Peterson. The award recognises her lifelong contributions to archival science, records management and professional education, and was celebrated as part of the International Council on Archives’ flagship global event.
Photo credit: Gina Pellicer
Who Can Be Nominated
Any individual who has had a major impact on the field of records and information management is eligible for nomination.
How to Nominate
To nominate an individual, please submit a nomination letter including:
- Contact information for the nominee
- A brief description of their impact on the records and information management profession
Nominations should be sent to Trudy Huskamp Peterson at archivesthp@aol.com by 19 February 2026. While all nominations will be gratefully received and reviewed by the Emmett Leahy Award Committee, individual responses to each submission cannot be guaranteed.
Selection Process
The 2026 Emmett Leahy Award Committee, composed of the previous ten recipients, will:
- Review all nominations and select finalists
- Invite finalists to submit a formal application by 19 March 2026
- Select the recipient whose contributions have had the most significant impact on the records and information management profession
The 2026 Emmett Leahy Award will then be presented to the chosen individual, celebrating their remarkable achievements.
